Headache for Forest boss as stats prove importance of Reid and Cohen

A look at the statistics behind a winning team can be a fun, enlightening experience for football fans.

A look at the statistics behind a losing team, however, is nothing but.

For Nottingham Forest, though, the stats behind their Championship season - one that has descended into a run of just two wins in 20 - make for mixed reading.

Naturally, the stats behind many individual performers leave a lot to be desired. But, at the City Ground, two particular performers have clearly done well in key areas - the only problem is they've been out injured for months...

Final-Third Passes (per game)

Chances Created

Accurate Crosses

Accurate Passes

Andy Reid

14.67

2.5

1.83

40.83

Chris Cohen

11.83

1.83

0.17

36.83

Henri Lansbury

9.67

2.5

1.61

27.78

Ben Osborn

8.88

1.59

0.88

26.65

David Vaughan

7.43

1.14

1

35.57

Michail Antonio

7.4

1.32

1.08

13.72

Indeed, as Opta data shows, Andy Reid and Chris Cohen are still Nottingham Forest's best passers of the campaign (with Reid also joint-best chance creator and best crosser of the ball) despite only playing a handful of games before being ruled out with long-term injuries.

No one has been nearly as effective as Reid in the final third, while only the oft-criticised Henri Lansbury has done as well in terms of creating chances or crossing.

Naturally, boss Stuart Pearce can't hide behind injuries as an excuse for Nottingham Foret's poor form. But a look at the statistics will leave him with a headache: why is it that his current squad - one brimming with talent - cannot compare to his injured stars?

Pearce will no doubt rue his luck that the likes of Reid and Cohen are out injured. At the same time, however, he will know he still has the players to win games. And it's about time both the Nottingham Forest boss and playing staff showed they remember what it actually takes to do so. Especially with Derby County on the horizon.

Tim Poole

Tim Poole is a sports journalist for HITC with a love of football, tennis and snooker in particular.His career to date has seen him speak to former Manchester United boss David Moyes, interview snooker world champion Mark Selby and be snubbed by Premier League managers and players in more than one language!He is a massive Roger Federer fan and lives by the motto that 'sport is life.' When he's not writing about it, he's playing it, be it football, tennis, basketball, badminton, table tennis, darts, snooker, golf or even water polo. He is better at some than others...